Prayers and support for Stan and Sharon Sakai

I know you all received this email from Tom Richmond and the NCS office (thanks Phil).
Let's pull together and help Stan and Sharon in any way we can.

Thanks,
ME


To all NCS Members,

This is a wonderful time of year for most of us. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that isn't about commercialism, selling toys or candy, or giving presents... it's about the gathering of family and friends to enjoy a meal together and give thanks for the things that are important in life—health, family, community and any other blessings we might be lucky enough to have been granted in the last year.

For some people, the things they are thankful for can seem very distant in the face of the challenges life has placed in their path. As with any group, some of those in our NCS family have had such challenges to contend with this year, but there is one couple who are in particularly great need that I want to make you aware of.

Stan Sakai and his wife Sharon are beloved figures in the cartooning and comic book world. Stan's three decades of work on Usagi Yojimbo are examples of the triumph of great talent, great storytelling and creator-owned comics. Sharon has been a fixture at Comic-Cons and both are great supporters of the cartooning industry. Sharon's health has been devastated by cancer and the extent and costs of her care have placed great hardship on the Sakais. Some background from Stan:

"A bit of background with what this is all about: In 2004, Sharon woke up one morning and said, “I can’t hear anything out of my left ear.” It was traced back to a meningioma brain tumor. It is benign, but large and inoperable. There was no hope of it getting smaller. The most we could hope for was that it would not grow larger. She underwent radiation therapy, and that seemed to control it. She went in for regular MRIs, and no growth was detected.

However, it started growing in 2010, and very aggressively. She has facial paralysis on the left side (everything happens on the left side). The paralysis includes her throat, vocal chords, and it has even deteriorated her neck bones. She had lost almost 40% of her body weight in a year. She is undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors don’t see any end in sight for this. There are complications because of the tumor, medications, or just coincidence–diabetes, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, compromised immune system. She has a tracheostomy tube for breathing and a G-tube connected to her stomach for a liquid diet. She can take nothing through her mouth. She is bed-bound, but we try to give her daily physical therapy–walking a couple hundred feet with a walker and/or sitting in a wheelchair.

She had been in the hospital and nurse care from April to September, but we are glad she is home. She requires 24 hour care, so daughter Hannah and her family moved in with us. This includes 18 month old grandson Leo, and another grandchild due in February/early March.

A lot of you do know Sharon, as she had been a fixture at my booth at San Diego and many other conventions. Thank you all for your help, good thoughts, and prayers."


CAPS, the Cartoon Art Professional Society, is conducting an ongoing auction of original art to benefit the Sakais in their need. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Stan & Sharon to help pay their ongoing medical expenses. Please visit this page to find out how you can donate original artwork to help these wonderful people:

http://www.garageartstudio.blogspot.com/2013/11/help-stan-sakai.html?m=1

You can also donate directly via a PayPal account, the link to which is also on that page linked above (as of the writing on this, overwhelming response has temporarily shut down the PayPal link... if it's not working please return later if you want to donate).

Please consider giving at this time of Thanksgiving to help one of our extended family through some truly trying times.

MADly,

Tom
___________
President
National Cartoonists Society
http://www.tomrichmond.com/
tom@tomrichmond.com


Eric Henson's Blogfolio also offered this link:
http://erichensonart.blogspot.de/2013/11/help-stan-sharon-sakai.html

Stan & Pauline UPDATE (re. Mike Lynch)

UPDATE: STAN AND PAULINE GOLDBERG DOING BETTER

Stan is out of the ICU. Both he and Pauline are doing better and had a chance to sit together on Friday. Stan is in a back brace from his waist to his neck. Pauline had surgery to repair the broken bones in her arms and leg.

It looks as though they will be at the hospital for at least a few more days before going on to therapy.

Flowers were delivered from the NCS today. I know there are more on the way.

You can send cards to them care of the hospital. I am sure they will be thrilled to receive them:

North Shore University Hospital
300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY 11030

They are not up to visitors as of now.

Stan and Pauline Goldberg in car accident...

Sending good wishes and prayers for our beloved friends, Stan & Pauline Goldberg. Received a Facebook post from Mike Lynch saying that on Tuesday night, Stan and Pauline were involved in a bad auto accident after returning home from the OSU Festival of Cartoon Art. Thankfully they're both alive but not in the best of shape: Pauline broke both arms and a leg while Stan suffered a fractured vertebrae.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the family.
Get well soon, you two. We love and miss you.

REMEMBERING BIL KEANE

A statue has been erected to remember Bil Keane, creator of FAMILY CIRCUS.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/20131106statue-honoring-family-circus-cartoonist-bil-keane-unveiled.html

Electing New Officers

Folks,

As was mentioned at the Fall Meeting, Paul and I are stepping down from our posts and letting you nominate candidates for the posts of Chair and Treasurer of the North Central Chapter. For those thinking about throwing their hat into the ring, we thought you'd be interested in what some, if not all, of those duties entail.

Once the two new officers have been selected from an election, that we'll be putting together once nominations have been submitted, Paul and I will, out of the kindness of our hearts, be available to address questions from time to time.

If you think you have what it takes (and it ain't much) to be the next Chair or Treasurer of the North Central Chapter, submit your name to myself and/or Paul. We'll put the list together. Nominations will be accepted now until December 1, 2013.


Chair
Organize chapter meetings
Fall meeting
Reuben Judging meeting
Miscellaneous meetings and events as they occur
Participates in the chapter chairs meeting at the Reubens
If unable to attend, appoint a stand in who will report back to the chair
Write Chapter Happenings for The Cartoon!st magazine
Keep chapter membership roster current and report to NCS/Crow-Segal
Necessary for the annual reimbursement from NCS
Reports to NCS on chapter events
Go-between for chapter and the NCS

Treasurer
Keep track of expenses
Collect money at events
Make sure that the reimbursement from NCS is collected
Pay the bills
Maintain the checkbook; keep a balance
Report on finances at chapter meeting

— ME